JAMIE FOY
JAMIE FOY
JAMIE FOY
'UK's Strong Man !'
STEVE McCLURE
Date of birth: July 25,1970 (age 46)
Current Residence: Saltburn by the Sea, England
Height: 5 ft 7 in
Married /Significant: Vic (together for 24 years)
Children. Son: Harry (age 4) Daughter: Amelie (age 10)
Profession: Rock Climber, Coaching, Route Setter
Hardest Sport Climb: Rainman 9b - 5.15b
Hardest Onsight: 8b
Sponsors: Petzl, Five Ten, Beal Ropes
Books: Beyond Limits
Website: http://www.steve-mcclure.com
ABOUT: Steve McClure (born July 25, 1970) started climbing when he was a child with his parents. Initially he practiced trad climbing and started sport climbing only when he was 24. In 1998 he made the first ascent of Mutation, at Raven Tor, his first 9a and second 9a of UK in history.
In 2000 he made the first ascent of another 9a, Northern Lights, in Kilnsey. The route was an old project of Ben Moon. In 2003 he established his third 9a, with the first ascent of Rainshadow, in Malham Cove. From 2000 to 2004 he competed in the Lead Climbing World Cup and in European Championships.
On May 23, 2007 he made the first ascent of his hardest route, Overshadow in Malham Cove. This route is an extension to the 8a+ Overnite Sensation and at 2013 it represents the UK's hardest sport route. The free ascent took McClure about 30 days of work in three years. On May 16, 2011 Adam Ondra made the first and only repeat of the route, confirming the grade as a hard 9a+ (5.15a).
In 2017 McClure completed his seven year project in Malham Cove; Rainman. Although Steve was reluctant to give the route a grade, he believed Rainman to be be considerably harder than Overshadow 9a+ (5.15a) - thus giving the route a modest grade of 9b (5.15b), making it UK's hardest route, and one of the hardest routes in the world.
"That's the thing about life, having something to look forward too, something to motivate for. If you have something, it makes such a difference to your state of mind."
Margo Hayes
STEVE MCLURE PODCAST
Available on Apple Podcast
STEVE MCLURE VIDEOS
Steve McClure likes nothing more than to tackle challenges on the rock in his country UK. After sending "Rainman" 9b/5.15b in 2017, he settled a long overdue score by onsighting "Nightmayer" E8/8a+/5.13c, a difficult trad climbing in Wales.
Steve McClure sends "GreatNess Wall" E10 7a. An 18m high total vertical face climb with poor footholds, necessitating fast hand moves between bad edges and hard foot swaps with no place to rest or compose yourself.
In 2017, BMC ambassador and top sport climber Steve McClure finally climbed his seven-year mega-project at Malham, Rainman, to give the UK its first-ever 9b. The route, at Malham Cove in Yorkshire, climbs up the classic Raindogs (8a) then climbs the bulge into Rainshadow (9a). After the crux of Rainshadow, which moves left onto better holds, Rainman blasts pretty much straight up to eventually join Bat Route. It does link existing routes but there’s a bunch of new climbing.
"That's the thing about life, having something to look forward too, something to motivate for. If you have something, it makes such a difference to your state of mind."
Steve McClure makes the second ascent of the intimidating overhanging wall "Choronzon" E10/7a/5.14a in Pembroke, Wales, making it one of the hardest trad routes in the UK
We look into the life and mind of self-deprecating British climbing legend Steve McClure to get his very personal take on his climbing career. We track his life from his first steps in the mountains, to the accident that derailed him, and his subsequent journey to become Britain’s best-ever sport climber claiming the prize of the UK’s first 9b Rainman.
Steve McClure establishes the First Ascent of "Overshadow" 9a+/5.15a. A route that Adam Ondra confirmed was difficult for the grade
"I thrive on finding a way, a path through difficulties that don’t rely on strength. I live for the immersion that climbing can give, all thoughts cast aside with only pure movement remaining."
Steve McClure and Neil Mawson attempt a spectacular multi-pitch route at the Verdon, France. Both men found themselves way off the route and had to dig deep to find success.
UK's top sport climber Steve McClure takes on his longest route ever, taking the best bits from 3 routes at Malham Cove Yorkshire.
McClure states "This is a link-up of exiting routes, starting up Bat route 8c/8c+, then going left into Rainshadow which is probably about 9a and then going left again in Overshadow which is probably about 9a+ and takes in the best climbing of all the routes!" Soure: Posing Productions
"This is a link-up of exiting routes, starting up Bat route 8c/8c+, then going left into Rainshadow which is probably about 9a and then going left again in Overshadow which is probably about 9a+ and takes in the best climbing of all the routes!"
"Rhapsody" E11/7b/5.14c - Six days after Sonny Trotter captured the 2nd ascent of David Macleod's test piece in Dumbarton Rock, Scottland, Steve McClure nabbed the 3rd ascent, after just four days work - marking the fastest ascent of the line to date. Note: Macleod established the route in 2006 after two years work and seventy days on the route.
"Plenty of people are on the same level as me in terms of climbing. The real marker is how hard you push yourself, how motivated you are and how much you enjoy it. Its all relative. Climbing is my passion, all the routes I try are routes that inspire me. It's important to climb for the right reasons." Steve McClure quote from UK Climbing interview.
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